Warren's 60-Plus Club says jailing seniors like Matty Moroun is unfair, how about seniors like Jerry Sandusky?

Jonathan Oosting and APWarren's 60-Plus Club says jailing 84-year-old Matty Moroun (right) is "discrimination against seniors." Do they apply that same standard to ex-football coach and accused pedophile Jerry Sandusky (left)?

“Jailing an 84 year-old man is cruel and discrimination against seniors. There are other ways this judge could respond to the judicial proceedings, but jailing an 84-year-old for these actions is reprehensible,” said former Warren City Councilman and 60-Plus Club President Mike Wiecek in a statement released to news organizations.

Now, of course, justice should be balanced with mercy. It’s absolutely unjust to imprison someone who is on death’s door or is mentally incapacitated. However, as 84-year-old men go, outward appearances seem to suggest that Matty Moroun is relatively healthy. He speaks clearly and cogently, and while his movements are slow, he doesn’t require a cane or walker.

What’s more, Moroun obviously determined that he’s fit enough to serve a Director of a corporate empire. Lawyers for MDOT said in court Thursday that Moroun is not only a Director, but he controls 100% of the voting stock in the corporate entity that owns the Detroit International Bridge Company, which in turn owns North America's busiest commercial border crossing. Lawyers for Moroun and DIBC did not dispute that assertion.

If Mr. Moroun is of sound mind and body to handle the affairs of a corporation, then he’s of sound mind and body to handle the consequences of his actions.

Edwards jailed Moroun because the judge said Moroun has “the power and authority” to complete the Gateway Project. Moroun’s lawyers argue that’s not the case. The Court of Appeals will sort that out.

However, if it is reasonable to jail a 50-year-old man for contempt under these circumstances, then it must be equally reasonable to jail an 84-year-old man for contempt as well.

Let’s take the 60-Plus Club’s argument to its logical conclusion. Jailing an 84-year-old man, Wiecek contends, is “cruel and discrimination against seniors.”

Based on that argument, one must conclude that Wiecek seems to believe seniors should never be jailed. After all, no one has argued that Moroun should go free because he's in frail health. Wiecek’s argument is solely based on age. You reach a certain age, and you shouldn't have to go to jail for things.

In Pennsylvania right now, former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky awaits trial on charges of sexually abusing children. Sandusky is also a senior citizen. He will be 68 later this month according to Wikipedia. If convicted, he will likely die in prison.

Justice cannot be for the select, it must apply to everyone.

If we decide as a society that it is cruel to jail senior citizens, then we must apply that standard to all seniors from Matty Moroun to Jerry Sandusky, not just those seniors that an ex-Warren City Councilman happens to like.

Hopefully, Wiecek feels the same way. Otherwise, he’s just another dull hypocrite making cheap arguments based on emotion rather than reason.